Knowledge and Associated Factors of Obstetric Danger Signs among Pregnant Women at Tumu Government Hospital: A Health Facility Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The commencement of pregnancy requires close medical care. However, the inability of pregnant women to maintain optimal health result to pregnancy complications. This study sought to assess knowledge and associated factors on obstetric danger signs among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Tumu Government Hospital. A cross-sectional design adopted a simple random sampling technique to recruit 399 participants. A structured questionnaire was developed to collect data. Study data were analysed using Statistical Package Social Sciences (27) and analysed descriptively and inferentially with an alpha value <0.05 indicative of significant relationship between predictors and outcome variable. About 17% of participants had poor knowledge of obstetric danger signs. Factors such as occupation [p=0.001] associated with poor knowledge on obstetric danger signs. First trimester [p=0.012], Second trimester [p=0.001], Multigravida [p=.006] and Previous skilled birth [p=0.0001] significantly predicted poor knowledge on obstetric danger signs. Awareness of pregnant women through more intensive health education programs would help avert the complications associated with obstetric signs. Further studies are recommended to examine the role of traditional practices in the emergence of obstetric danger signs among pregnant women in the community